Pneumatic mote control



s- 3- c. R. can ET N. 2,328,126

PNEUMATIC MOTE CONTROL Filed June 20, 1941 3 3mm Y -Vga Char/es P. Carr Dewey Z2 Day Patented Aug. 31, 1943,

- m nimum Morn hour-non Charles R, Carr, Dallas, Tex.,.andDewey D. Day,

Me1nphis, Tenn.

Application than, 1941, Serial N5.- tease;

' 9Claims. (o1,.;1s .5s)

This invention relatesito new and useful improvements in pneumatic mote .contro1s.

One object oi the invention is to provide improved meansior economically and :efilciently removing the fine or lightweight motes; dirt, trash;

, and other fine extraneous matter, from the mote chamber-of a cotton gin without disturbing the normal separation and discharge of the heavier motes and-other extraneousmatter. 1 Animportant object of the invention is to proan improved pneumatic mote control which is associated with mote chamber of an :air ginand wlnch is adapted'to asslst in the removal oi lighiwweig ht motes and other extrane ous matter from said chamber, the mote control being adjustable to compensate tor varying op erating condition-s andalso or the conditionand netureot the motes, said oontrolbeingso posi-1 tloned that the adjustment or the same has no meterial eirect "upon the air currents within the mote; chamber, or upon the passage of heavier motes: and other extraneous matter there through. 1

71A partioular objectfof theinvention is to provide an improved adjustable control member for the inlet or a suction duct whichcommunicates with the lower 'portion ofthe mote chamber for withdrawing light-weight motes therefrom, the control member being spaced inwardly of the duct inlet and awa'y from said mote chamber,

whereby the internalcontour and area of the chamber remains unaltered upon adjustment-of said member and the normal separation and'discharge or the heavier motesis performed in the usual manner. l

."Another; object of the invention is to provide an; improved adjustable control member, of the character described'whichis so constructed and positioned with relation to the inlet of the sue tion duct and mote chamber that the same may befadjusted without materially increasing the 'veloeity of the motes being drawn" into saidduct, whereby clogging of the inlet is eliminated and wherebysubstantially motes of the same type or weight are withdrawn Irom the same portion" of animate chamber, irrespective of the adjustmentot the control member.

"A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ,pneumatic rnote control, ofthe character describedwherein a stationary deflectmg" member overhangsthe inlet of the suction duct so as to direct the motes to the bottom of thefmote chamberand wherein the control means iogvar'ying the volume 01 the air streamset up within said chamber by said suction duct is dis posednwithin saidinlet, whereby "the volumefof said air stream, maybe-varied without afiectin the contour or area of theiohamberlrw The construction designed to carryout the; invention' will be ihereinafter described together with other featuresoi the invention... 3 a

. 'The'invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and control, showing the same in a'partiahy-opened em No. 2,290,405.

position. I v 1. t

This application is a continuation-in-partof our co -pending'application, Serial No. 351,458, filedAugust 5, 1940, issuedJuly 2 1, 1942,as Pat-' In the drawing, the numeral I0 designates the rear portion'of a co'nventional air blast gin hav ing the usual ginning saws ll whichrevolve between the ribs l2. 1 A mote chamber 13 is dis posed behindthe saws H and a screw conveyor ",for discharging the separated motes and other extraneousinatter, is located at 'thebottom' of this chamber. The upper portion of thereari wall of theginorm'ote chamber [3 is "formed bye transversely-extending, hinged door I 5 which may be opened to permit acces'sto the interior oisaid chamber. An ordinary'air conduit [Bis positioned atthe rear of the gin, in the conven tional manner, while an airblast duct l1 leads upwardly from the air conduit to the saws and the air stream Within the duct is directed into contact with the saws by a transverse nozzle l8 which is mounted (m ne upper end of said duct; A downwardly-curved lint'duct I9 extendsfrom the sawsconti guous to theduct l'l and conducts the lint from said saws. i

The gin operatesin the customary manner withithe cotton being pulled through the ribs 12 by the saws I I so as to separate saidootton from the seed. Although the ribs are sufllciently close to the saws to prevent thepassa ge of the seed, said saws do not prevent motes,,trash, and other extraneous matter presentin the cotton, from being-carried through-said. ribs by'..theusaws..

control in its motes adjacent the nozzle l8 may be drawn downwardlyeinto thelint duct [9 by the air ,suction therein. In actual practice, it has been found that a large portion of thelight-weight extraneous matter becomes admixed with the ginned cotton which is being drawn from the' saws H by the air suction within the lint duct.

In order to overcome this highly undesirable situation and for removing the lighter motes from the mote chamber, the pneumatic mote control disclosed in our co-pending application, Serial No. 351,458, has been provided. Although this mote-control has been extremely successful,

tends transversely of the transition 22 and has each of its marginal edges bent forwardly upon itself at substantially a right angle to provide a forwardly-directed, continuous flange 29 which is fastened to the walls of said transition by welding, or other suitable means. The partition 28 may be mounted at any point within the transition 22, but it is preferable to locate the same at or adjacent to the inlet end of saidtransition. As is clearly shown in' Figure [the partition is provided with a plurality of large circular openings 30 which are preferably spaced equi-distantly apart longitudinally of said partition, For

covering and uncovering the openings 30, a plurality of plates or shutters iii are slidably disposed along the forward or outer surface of the I partition and are preferably maintained in close proximity to said opening and in intimate conit has been foundjthat the adjustment of its intake nozzle varies'the velocity of the air current passingthrough said nozzle immediately drawn into the suction duct, especially those particles immediately adjacent to the suction nozzle and the rear wall. of the gin, or arising from the conveyor I 4. Therefore, an improved pneumatic mote control 20 has been provided and includes an air suctionductll which is disposed behind the mote chamber I3 below the rear door I 5 and above the conduit l6. I

As is clearly shown in Figure 2, a suitable transitionorflue 22 establishes communication between the duct 2] and the lower portion ofthe mote chamber. throughout the transverse width of the gin and has the door [5 hinged'to its upper surface. An inclined deflector 23 overhangs the inner open end of the transition and is constructed of a flat member or sheet which extends downwardly at an angleinto the mote chamber beyond the lower end of' said transition and which has its upper end fastened'to the transition by suitablewing nuts and bolts 25." The lower end of the sheet 23 is spaced from the rear wall of themote chamber and is bent rearwardly and upwardlyupon itself so as to-surround a transverse supporting rodor shaft 26, whereby said sheet is pivotally supported by the rod, and may be swung about the axis thereof; Thus, access to the interior of the transition 22 may be had by opening the door,

[5, unfastening. the wing nuts 24 and swinging the sheet 23 upwardly and forwardly. By passing the'freeend of'the sheet around; the rod and then fastening said free end to the" rear surface of said sheet, the rigiditythereof is materially increased. It is pointed out that the elongate.

- transverse opening formed between the sheet 23 and the rear wall of the gin provides an inlet or intake nozzle 21 for drawing air from the mote and into the ductl2l, a partition '01 plate 23,622+,"

This transition or flue extends y inlet opening into the duct 2| tact with said partition by a pair of longitudinally-extending retaining members or guide bars 32. Each retaining member comprises an elongate, offset bracket or rail which is secured to the outer surface of the partition 28, and said rails are disposed parallel to each other above and below the opening 39. Manifestly, the plates or shut ters 8| are slidably confined between the rails 32 and may be moved or slid longitudinally of the partition 28 so as to:cover more or less of, the openings 30 and thereby vary the volume of air passing through said openings 30. 7

With the plates in the position shown in Figure 3, aprelatively large volume or quantity of air will'be-drawn from the, mote. chamber l3 into the duct 2|, while only a relatively small volume of air will bedrawn' into said duct when said openings are partially closed as shown in Figure 4. In both position of the plates ;3l the induced suction or current ofair within the mote chamber will be relatively light and will act only upon those motes which are in close proximity to the inlet 21, whereby the extraneous'matter in the central portion of saidchamber will not be affected by this suction so as to permit normal separation in thelremainderof the ;mote chamber; The position of the plates shown in Figure 4 has'been found to be'ideal when the extraneous matter is green or damp, due to weather conditio-ns or for other reasons, because suchmatter has added weight and the centrifugal force of the saws will throw the same farther into'the mote chamber. The extraneous matter or motes, which are-of insufficient weight tofall into the conveyor M, are drawn downwardly along the rear wall of the chamber l3 and through the Since cotton and, consequently, ginning thereof, is affected by weatherconditions, it is obvious that the size orarea of the openings 30 must-be varied in accordance with such conditions. Therefore, the plates M are moved to the position shown in Figure 3 when the motes or extraneous matter are ,extremely dry. U With the openingsuncovered or fully opened, the air suction exerted upon the motes and other extraneousimatter, or the induced air current within the mote chamber, is of much greater intensity than when said openings are partially'covered. This relatively increased air currentIor-stream is drawn downwardly within the chamber and up,- wardly through the-inlet 2! and transition 22 into the duct 2i, wherebythe extraneous matter within said chamber which is of insufficient weight to fall into the conveyor M'will be carried from the mote :chamber. It is pointed out that this airstreamlor current will be of greater intensity along'the rear wall of chamber,

but; that the same be insuflcientfstrength t0,

up. immediately addacent the blast nozzle l8. and will not remove minute particles or motes fromlin from; of said nozzle. However; this sue, tton wiilll be oi suilicielaiiintensity toafiect the me motes in-thecentral ma lower portions of" the mate chamber and remove thesametromsaid chamber. l M l It is pointed out that light wei'ght motes will be drawnffrom thetrough of the conveyor it in-, stead oi rising and floating above the heavier motes and that the inlet in. isdisposed-' belowand to therear of the 'airblast nozzle l8, whereby=-ithe normalseparation and discharge of the I heavier motes is not interilered with and the suction created nozzle is not afiected by the induced air current set up by the suction duct N. Attention is directedio, the fact that the position of the-openings fllizs such that: the more not within the rooting zone and that:

only those motes adjacent the inlet. 21- are' drawn through said- Of' course, there isia tendency for the light-weight motes rising from thc'trough of the conveyor l4 and in close\proximity to the rear wall: of the mote chamber to be drawn into the suction duct 2|. It is furovercozm the eflector the indueedxsuction" set 2. The combinationwith the motechamberof a cotton gin which chamber is "provided with an opening in the lower portion ,ofitsrear wall: below the melting zone, of a suction duct connected to the opening for Setting up an air current within said chamber, whereby: the light ther noted lthat due to the positioning of the l openings 30 inwardly of the inlet, the size or cross-sectional area of said openings may be varied without materially changing the velocity of the motes passing through the openings 'into the suction duct. Thus, clogging of the openings is substantially eliminated irrespective of the adjustment of the plates 3|,

Obviously, the heavier motes are deflected away from the inlet 21 into the conveyor by the deflector or sheet 23 so as to prevent stoppage of the suction duct,

since the air current therein is oflinsufiicient;

Due to the intensity of the air current or stream adjacent the 'rear wall of the mote chamber; the motes of intermediate weight will be directed downwardly As has been hereinbefo're set forth, access to the plates 3| for adjustment of intensity to affect the same.

into the conveyor.

the same may be accomplished by openingthe door l5, which is hinged to the upper surface of the transition 22, unfastening the wing nuts 24 and swinging the deflecting member or sheet 23 upwardly and forwardly. The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of theillustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with the mote'chamber of a cotton gin which chamber is provided with an opening in the lower portion of its rear wall be low the moting zone, of a suction duct connected to the opening for setting up an air current within said chamber,- whereby the light-weight motes and other extraneou matter may be withdrawn from said chamber, a longitudinal deflecting element within the chamber overlying said opening and spaced from the rear wall of said chamber to formlan inlet through which air is,

drawn from the chamber into the duct, and a partition disposed between the deflecting element andduct having openings for establishing,

communication between said chamber and said duct.

weight motesandpther extraneous matter may be withdrawn from said chamber, a longitudinal" deflecting element within the chamber overlying said opening and spaced from the rear wall of said chamber toform an inlet. through which air is drawn fromv the-chamber into the duct; a partition disposed between the deflecting element.

and duct having-openings forestablishing coma munication between said chamber and: said duct; and meansior varying the size-of the openings for controlling the volume of the air stream.

I 3. The combination with the: mate chamber of a' cottongin which chamber is, provided with an 1 opening in the lower portion or its 'rear wall below the moting zone or a suction duct connected to the opening for setting up an air current-within said chamber, whereby the light-weight mates. and other extraneous matter maybe withdrawn from said chamber, a. longitudinal deflecting ciao ment within the chamber overlying said opening and spaced from the rear wall of said; chamber; to forman inlet for-the suction duct, and a perm forate member disposed between the deflecting element and duct for establishing communication between the chamber and said duct.

4. The combination with the mote chamber of a cotton gin which chamber is provided with an opening in the lower portion of its rear wall below the moting zone, of a suction duct connected to the opening for setting up an air current within said chamber, whereby the light-weight motes and other extraneous matter may be withdrawn from said chamber, a longitudinal deflecting element within the chamber overlying said opening and spaced from the rear wall of said chamber to form an inlet through which air is drawn from the chamber into the duct, a partition disposed between the'deflecting element and duct having openings for establishing communication between said chamber and said duct, shutters associated with the openingsfor varying the cross-sectional area of the same so as to accurately control the volume of the air stream, and means mounted on th partition for slidably supporting the shutters in cooperative relationship to said openings.

5; In an air blast gin having saws and a. mote chamber provided with a mote discharge conveyorin its bottom, a pneumatic mote control including, a suction duct, means below and to the rear of the moting zone for establishing communication between the duct and the lower portion of the mote chamber, whereby the motes of through the mote chamber and upwardly into the duct, whereby motes thrown from the saws and of insufficient weight to fall to the bottom of said chamber are drawn into the discharge conveyor, and control means spaced from the chamber and adjacent said duct for varying the volume of the air stream, the control means being disposed longitudinally of said-chamber and being movable along its longitudinal axis.

a '7. In an air blast gin having saws and a mote chamber provided with a mote discharge conveyor in its bottom, a pneumatic mote control including, a suction duct communicating with the lower portion of the mote chamber, downwardlydirected means associated with the duct and disposed below and to the rear of the moting zone for directing an air stream downwardly through means and said duct and spaced from said cham- 7 her for controlling the volume of the air stream.

v8. In an air blast gin having saws and a mote chamber provided with a mote discharge'conveyor in its bottom, a pneumatic mote control including, a suction duct, 'means opening downwardly into the lower portion of the mote chamber for establishing communication between the duct and said chamber, whereby a downwardly sweeping air current may be induced within and across the chamber to draw the intermediate motes and other extraneous matter into the lower portion of said chamber and into the discharge conveyor, and slidably adjustable means within the communicating means and spaced from the chamber for controlling the intensity of the air current induced within and across said chamber.

9. The combination with the mote chamber of an air blast gin which chamber has an opening in its rear wall below the moting zone and a mote discharge conveyor in its bottom, of a pneumatic mote control including, a suction duct communicating with the chamber opening for setting up a downwardly-sweeping air current within and across the chamber, whereby the motes and other extraneous matter of-intermediate-weight may be drawn from the upper portion of said chamber into the lower portion thereof and into the discharge conveyor, a longitudinal deflecting element depending and spaced from the rear'wall of the chamber so as to overlie its opening and form an upwardly-directed inlet to the suction duct, and slidably adjustable means within said opening and disposed between the deflecting element and duct for varying the volume of the air current. a

' CHARLES R. CARR.

DEWEY D. DAY. 

